NRL clubs and officials want to wait until the impact of the game’s new concussion policy becomes clearer before considering a recommendation by doctors to introduce an 18th man as a replacement for players forced from the field.

A meeting of NRL club doctors on grand final day last year advocated teams having an 18th man on standby to replace players ruled out of the game after a sideline concussion assessment but the recommendation was rejected.

Concussed: Liam Fulton of Wests Tigers had to be stretchered off against St George Illawarra. Photo: Getty Images

Despite eight players being taken out of the opening seven round one matches to be assessed by club doctors, and only two cleared to return, there are concerns that giving teams access to an 18th man would be difficult to police and could have an even greater impact on the game than the concussion policy.

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‘‘I think we need a few more games before we start making recommendations,’’ said Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett, whose team was reduced to 14 men against Penrith after skipper Kurt Gidley and halfback Tyrone Roberts failed sideline concussion tests and fullback Darius Boyd injured a hamstring.

Fairfax Media understands NRL officials had rejected the idea of an 18th man amid concerns about the fairness of a team being able to call on an extra player to replace a player ruled out with concussion when their opponents lose players to injury and can’t replace them.

Such a policy might encourage a player who suffers a hamstring injury to suddenly clutch at his head, and there would also be implications for the salary cap.

‘‘It is something that right now we are not considering implementing because there are several ramifications that have to be well and truly considered prior to introducing more players onto the benches or onto the field of play,’’ NRL football operations director Nathan McGuirk said.

Despite the impact on his side in Saturday night’s 30-8 loss, Knights chief executive Matt Gidley said teams could lose players to injury in any match. ‘‘Whether we decide to introduce an 18th man purely to cover a player who has suffered concussion is not something as club we have considered yet,’’ Gidley said. ‘‘Our priority at the moment, as evident in our match last weekend, is to be guided by our club doctor in regard to whether a player is fit to return the field of play or not.’’

Wests Tigers also lost back-rower Liam Fulton to concussion when they were leading 18-6, and eventually crashed 44-24 to St George Illawarra but coach Michael Potter opposes introducing extra players. ‘‘It wasn’t going to change what happened on the weekend for us, although losing ‘Fults’ was tough,’’ he said. ‘‘We don’t need an 18th man, we’ve got three other reserves. Next we’ll go to 19 players, then 20 etc.’’

Rugby League Medical Officers Association spokesman Sam Sorrenti said he was ‘‘extremely happy’’ with the concussion process but argued more could be done. ‘‘Having an 18th man is something which has been tossed into the air in the past,’’ Sorrenti said. ‘‘I think if the NRL and the doctors think this will be a major issue, then necessary changes will be made. No one wants to disadvantage a team or the spectators because you can quite easily see where both teams will have a number of players off with head injuries and won’t be able to finish the game with a full complement of players.’’

Eels prop Tim Mannah was one player cleared to return after a concussion assessment without costing his team an interchange, and Parramatta coach Brad Arthur said the system worked well.

‘‘At the end of the day, player welfare is our priority,’’ Arthur said. ‘‘It was clear that Timmy had been affected by the tackle.’’

7 comments so far

18th man should happen, but only for "foul play", not just concussion.If your team suffers an injury (and concussions fall under injury) due to foul play, then the 18th man should come into play. But a team being able to use the 18th man option, simply coz of "any injury, including concussion" suffered "not by foul play", then it will get rorted and is a waste of time.

Commenter

Mooshead

Location

Of Moss Vale

Date and time

March 10, 2014, 10:11PM

Good Plan. Let's add yet more grey area's to the game.

Maybe the 18th man could be used in a case of foul play, but only when the the perpetrator had carrier over points from a previous charge that was neither reckless nor careless.

What if a player is injured but not concussed by foul play (crusher tackle, cannon ball, chicken wing)? Why is concussion worthy of an 18th man and not one of these?

Commenter

SamDavisJr

Location

Intentionally recklessly careless

Date and time

March 12, 2014, 9:59AM

Why not go further with the concussion rule and allow an 18th man but make it in conjunction with a mandatory week off for anyone replaced.

Commenter

Ace Qwerty

Date and time

March 11, 2014, 7:36AM

Exactly, you hit the nail on the head.

Commenter

Trenno

Date and time

March 11, 2014, 10:10AM

I have to agree - it should have a similar application to amateur booking where if you are KO'd you are out for at least 7 days for the first event and 28 days for the next one. The NRL needs to protect the players from themselves, their team-mates and the coaches. I am surprised that Ian Robberts has not lodged a claim for compensation (probably against the NSWRL rather than ARLC).

Commenter

saint mike II

Date and time

March 11, 2014, 10:11AM

Coaches will just rort it. Pick a major impact player on the bench, bring them on fresh with 15 to go, It wont take much ' concussion coaching ' for a player to be tested positive on the sidelines, Concussion coaching will be part of the weekly training drills alongside wrestling, running the clock down and verbal warfare on referees.

Commenter

Mike

Location

Rhodes

Date and time

March 11, 2014, 11:16AM

Instead of adding an 18th man, if a player is unable to return due to concussion from foul play, the offending team lose the player from the same position from their squad. That is, a front rower hits the half back high, the offending team's half back is stood down, but 13 remain on the park - 1 less on the bench, so its the same for both teams. If the incident is bad enough, the actual offender is sent off as well as the stand down and they play short. If there was no foul play, no change to current rules.

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